Isaiah 54:10
"For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."
"If any of us are making experience to-day of earthly change, if any of us have hearts heavy with earthly losses, if any of us are bending under the weight of that awful law, that everything becomes part and parcel of that dreadful past, if any of us are looking at our empty hands and saying, 'They have taken away my god and what have I more?' let us listen to the better voice that says, 'My kindness shall not depart from thee, and so, whatever goes, thou canst not be desolate if thou hast Me.'" - Alexander MacLaren
All good things on this earth that God designed for His glory do not all remain beautiful or grow into His desired workmanship because we veer from His ways. Pride sabotages God's best intentions for us. We cycle through thinking we know better than God. He lets us go our own way because He is a God of choice, not force. Pride produces gods in our lives - of even good things. Idolatry is addressed in the first of the Ten Commandments. When these "gods" are taken away, His lovingkindness remains. It is His perfect lovingkindness for the idols to be removed for then we can see God and know Him as our closest Friend above all and as our sovereign Judge over all things.
There have been idols in my life that have been painfully removed from my heart over the years. Note that some were even good things revered as the highest goals in Christian service and given misplaced priority. All the bonus gifts and blessings that He gives should not overshadow my relationship with Him. My greatest treasure is Jesus Christ. To Him my full allegiance belongs.
In the old hymn from 1875, Clara Tear Williams expressed, "Hallelujah, I have found Him, Whom my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies my longings, Through His blood I now am saved."
Isaiah 54:5-8
For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.
As a believer, I am an individual person in the church -the body and bride of Christ. However I live out my my life as a bride, the Bridegroom - Jesus Christ - fulfills His husbandry lovingly and perfectly. He is love. He is perfection. My imperfections have no bearing on His love for me. My unfaithfulness to Him does not change His faithfulness to me. It is His joy to redeem me and radiate His love through me. Love does that.
My Maker is my Husband, Faithful and True
He has promised He would always stay
He reminds me "I am His, and He is mine!"
From Him, no one can ever take me away.
My Redeemer is Strong, Merciful, and Kind
He has promised He would never forsake
A wife of youth refused - a woman grieved.
His covenant made - He will never break.
With His lovingkindness He draws me
Held secure in His arms everlasting
By His gentle Spirit, He leads me with
Goodness, mercy, and understanding.
My Strength, My Song, My Salvation:
Lover of my soul, Comforter and Friend,
Good gifts pale in the light of His presence:
Together we walk toward Home, hand-in-hand.
~jlw
7.8.23
"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." - Jeremiah 31:3
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